Gin and tonic has overtaken tea as the nation’s favourite drink, marking a significant shift in British consumer habits. A recent survey conducted as part of the sixth annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report found that 44% of Britons now opt for a G&T when meeting friends, narrowly surpassing the 41% who prefer a traditional cup […]
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Metro Bank £16.6 million for failing to implement adequate systems to monitor money laundering risks, impacting over 60 million transactions valued at more than £51 billion. The lapses, occurring between June 2016 and December 2020, reveal serious deficiencies in Metro’s financial crime prevention controls. Metro Bank introduced automated […]
The UK hair salon industry faces an uncertain future, with two in five salons at risk of closure due to rising employment costs outlined in last month’s budget. Industry leaders, including Carla Whelan, CEO of the Regis and Supercuts salon group, have voiced concerns over the “devastating” impact of increased employer national insurance contributions, which […]
Investors are keenly awaiting SSE’s interim results on Wednesday, hoping for an update on the FTSE 100 energy group’s spending plans and progress on its renewable projects. SSE, one of the UK’s largest offshore wind developers, recently completed several significant projects, including the 443-megawatt Viking onshore wind farm, the Shetland subsea link, which will connect […]
The Berry and Rudd families, owners of the esteemed London wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, have raised concerns over recent inheritance tax reforms that could threaten the future of their 376-year-old business. The Labour government’s proposed 50% reduction in business property relief—which allows family-owned businesses to pass down assets tax-free—has left the families grappling […]
Farming leaders and suppliers are warning that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tax on farming assets exceeding £1 million could undermine Britain’s food security, making the UK more dependent on foreign imports. Senior business figures, including Nigel Murray, managing director of Booths supermarket, have voiced concerns that the tax changes could erode incentives for domestic food […]
Protectionist trade policies, such as those proposed by Donald Trump, may inadvertently harm U.S. manufacturing firms by increasing input costs, leading to reduced investment, according to a study from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. With tariffs central to Trump’s economic vision, manufacturers may face higher costs on imported goods if he is re-elected, […]
The UK Government has launched GOV.UK Forms, a new digital tool designed to make it faster and easier for the public to access essential government services online. Following a successful pilot phase, the platform is now set for rollout across all government departments, allowing citizens to complete applications and forms online without the need for […]
In its first Autumn Budget, the Labour government has committed £500 million to improve broadband speed and mobile coverage across the UK, with a particular focus on rural areas. Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighted that the funding will bolster ongoing projects like the £5 billion Project Gigabit, targeting 99% gigabit broadband by 2030, and the £1 […]
Shoplifting in the UK has reached unprecedented levels, with over 1.2 million cases recorded by police forces since April 2019, according to data obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK. The surge is particularly pronounced in 2023, with 344,709 offences logged—a 30% rise over the previous year—marking a new 20-year high in England and Wales. The […]